Typewriting machine



w. A. DOBSON I I 2.209,223

TYPEWRITING MACHINE July 23, 1940.

Filed Dec. 30, 1938 29 50 U INVENTOR I W/LZ/A/V A. 90550 ATTORNEY 7 Patented July 23, 1940 UNITED STATES TYPEWRITING MACHINE William A. Dobson, Wethersfield, Conn., assignor to Underwood Elliott Fisher Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application December 30, 1938, Serial No. 248,504

3 Claims.

This invention relates generally to the platen carriage structures of typewriting machines and has reference particularly to the paper shelf thereof and associated mechanisms,

.One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved paper shelf andv associated carriage structure, affording a neat and practical arrangement of improved appearance, as well as being adapted for economic manufacture in an attractive, durable structure.

Another object is to provide an improved mounting for the paper shelf on the platen carriage to facilitate swinging of the shelf to or from its normal position by a momentary, carefree finger-touch, to thus afford convenient access to a carriage stop or like mechanism housed by the paper shelf and normally concealed thereby.

A further object is to provide an improved arrangement' of paper shelf and associated typewriter carriage, the latter presenting a generally low, shallow structure and having carriage stop devices carried thereby, the paper shelf reaching well above the carriage to afford adequate support of the paper and blending with the low carriage in a manner to form a complete cover therewith, concealing the stop devices, and lending a shallow, yet rugged appearance to the typewriter.

The present invention also relates to improvements in paper shelf and associated carriage structures, over my prior Patent No. 2,126,315, issued August 9, 1938.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawing, 7

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the typewriter platen carriage and associated paper shelf embodying my improvements, portions being broken away to reveal inner mechanism.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the paper shelf end portion partly broken away to facilitate illustration.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail sectional View taken on line 33 of Figure 4, illustrating one end portion of the paper shelf and carriage.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 3, and

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but illustrating the paper shelf swung to low position for access to the carriage stop mechanism.

The embodiment of the invention herein illustrated forms part of the Underwood typewriting machine of the portable or light-duty class. A platen carriage includes end members or plates 1 in which a rotatable platen 8 is journaled, the latter being manually rotated for paper feeding by a platen knob 9, and in line-space rotation by the usual mechanism including a ratchet wheel [0. Each carriage end plate 7 has an inturned flange H along the top edge thereof and a back flange l2 inturned at the rear edge thereof to reinforce the end-plate structure and afford a neat, compact appearance to the carriage, the top flange ll being substantially horizontal and at a low elevation ofthe carriage. To facilitate feeding of the paper onto'the platen 8, the usual paper deflector I3 is provided, as shown more clearly in Figure 4, this deflector having a rolled edge I to strengthen same longitudinally and provide a mounting for the paper deflector l3 on studs l5 carried on the respective endplates 1.

The platen carriage is movable transversely on the typewriter during line typing, and the various carriage positions, determining the line-lengths or margins and line-indenting, are controlled by the usual margin and tabulator stop mechanism which may. include a rack bar ll secured at its respective ends by brackets l8 to each carriage end plate 'I. The rack bar I1 is adapted to adjustably carry suitable margin stops [9 and tabulator stops 20 arranged to cooperate with suitable counter-stops not shown, in determining the several typing positions,

A paper shelf, generally indicated by numeral 2|,is adapted for fabrication of Bakelite or other molded material, as by a die-casting process, and is swingably mounted on the carriage in position relative to the platen to serve mainly as a paper rest and is disposed normally to overlie and conceal the. stop rack bar ll. The paper shelf 2| comprises mainly, a frontwall 22 inclining forwardly and downwardly to meet the paper deflector I3 in abutting relation therewith, and a rear wall or apron 23 which is disposed, in the normal position of the paper shelf, to lie substantially flush with the back flanges I?! of each carriage end plate 1 and abut same, see Figure 4. The shelf walls 22 and 23 meet at an apex 24 which is well rounded to enhance the appearance of the'typ'ewriter and to provide a surface receding gradually rearwardly from the front wall 22 to form an appropriate rest for the typing paper overhanging from the platen 8. To reinforce the paper shelf 2| a plurality of intermediate webs 25, and webs 26 adjacent each end of the paper shelf 2|, inter-connect the Walls 22, 23 thereof. The paper shelf 2| further includes end walls 2'! which depend from the rounded apex 24 and meet the top flanges I I of the carriage end plates l.

' It will thus be seen that the structure of the paper shelf 2|, including the front and rear walls 22, 23 and the end walls 21, provides an enclosure completely covering the carriage stop mechanism, particularly the rack bar I1 thereof, to conceal same from View and. to afford the practical advantage of preventing the deposit of dust or erasureparticles on this mechanism. It will also be seen thatthe structure of the paper shelf as described, comprising the several outer walls and connecting webs, is particularly adapted for fabrication of a molded or Bakelite material, and in organization with the generally shallow carriage structure, forms a rugged, neat arrangement, al- 3 though affording a paper shelf of adequate area. Thejusual paper side'edge guide 28 is adjustably carried on the paper shelf 21,. being suitably held in adjusted position thereon to guide the paper journaling a pivot pin 3llthreadably carried in a block, 3i secured 'to 'eachgend plate 1, constituting the pivotal mounting for. the paper shelf 2|.

'It is desired that the'papershelfZl loe' swung to either positionwith'facility, requiring merely a m'onientaryfinger touch tolbringthe. paper shelf to the 'desir'edposition'. To accomplish this, an overthrow spring '32 is operativelycarriedon coactingstuds '33, 34, .each stud havingv a' reduced end portion a "forming a 1 groove and a terminal head, inwhich groove the respective looped ends of the spring 32 are engaged; the spring32 Ibeinginitially compressed to urgethe studs 33, 34 further apart from each other in. eitherposition of the paper shelf, asindicated bythej arrowmin Figures 4iand 5. Stud 33 is stationary and is'accordingly carried on a fixed member of'theplaten carriage, herein the end-plate 1. "=Stud- 34' is movable with thepaper shelf and is held on the lower portion. ofthe end web 26. It will be'seen that the shelfcarrie'd, movable stud 34, inieither position of the paper shelf, is positioned .to either side of a center linepassing through the pivot pin 30 and thestationary stud '33, andthat as stud 34, during ,swinging zof the paper shelf, passes this, center line in either direction; 'the force of-spring32 overthrows stud'3 l' andith'ere by fully actuates the paper shelf: toth'e desired position. Thus, themanual force exerted on the paper shelf need' only swinglthe shelf until. its stud 34 is slightlybeyond this center line, whence the. force of theoverthrowspring 32 actuates the shelf the remaining distance until same is detented by suitable stops.

The normal position of the paper shelfZl, is defined by the engagement of' a cushion 35 of yieldable material suchas felt, securedto anedge of-the end wall 21, with .the stud"33 as shown in Figure 4. The Figure 5 position of the paper shelf is determined preferably by the action ofa link, 36 coacting with the studs 33,34, the link 36 having elongate slots' 31, 38 riding on the re-' duced end portions of the respective studs- 33, 34. The portion of link 36 defining the slot 31 is arcuate so thatthe link may move 'in'a region within the limits ofthe carriage end plate'flange H and the paperfshelf rear wall 23 .'Although a single spring overthrowdevice at one end of the paper shelf wouldsuffice, it is preferred to employ a similarsuch deviceatfeach shelf end so as to avoid-subjectingmhe shelf toianyi undue twisting stress inswinging same:

2,209,223 l fi v It may be here noted that the structure and association of the overthrow spring 32 and link 36 facilitate the assembly of these parts with the studs 33, 34. The slots 31, 38 in the link are each of a width adequate to permit installing thelink on the studs by threading same over each head thereof, the link being held in an angular position relative to the axis of each studto permit thestud headto-pass through the slot. After being "so installed, the position of link 36 at right angles" to the axes of the studs 33, 34 is maintained by the close association of the spring 32 with the link in such manner as to crowd link36 to one end of the reduced stud portions and against the shoulders bordering the grooves thereof. It will, of course, be noted that the compression of spring 32 holds the looped spring ends: onto the J respective studs, although these end loops are open to permit easy assembly. This association of spring 32 and link 36 with the studs 33, 34 also has; advantage in repair ,-,or maintenance. iofethe typewriter in facilitating there: moval of the paper shelf 2|, it being" only :re-i quired, after ,dismantling the spring and link, to withdrawthepivot pins 30 ,to complete'the removaL. l

"Although in this, application, there specifical ly described; one embodiment which the inven-. tion may assume in practice, it will be understood that same is shownqfor the purposes 'of illustration, and that; the invention may be modifiedandembodied in various other forms withp out departing from its appended claims.

What is claimed is: A i. V '1. In a typewritingmachine, a platen-carriagehaving a carriage stop mechanism carriedthereby, apaper shelf swingably mounted on said carriage in position to normally, overlie and conceal said; stop mechanism;,andswingable rearwardly to ineffective position to re;-

spirit -or the scope of; the:

in combination,

veal said stop mechanism,a first'stud carried on said carriage and a secondstud on said paper shelf, an overthrowspring operatively connegted with said studsand effective, upon swinging said shelf to anintermediate position, to actuate said shelf to either position, and a link having slots riding on'said studsand limiting the rearward swinging of said aper shelf. v

2; In a typewriting'machine, in'c'ombinatiomia platen carriage having a carriage stop mechanism carried thereby, a papershelf swing'ably mounted ons'aid carriage in position to'normally overlie.

and conceal said stop mechanism and swingabl'e rearwardly to ineffective position to reveal said stop' 'mechanism, ,a first I stud. carried on." said carriage and a second stud on said paper-shelf; each of said studs having a peripheral groove, an overthrow spring presentinga' looped wire form" having hooked ends seating in said stud grooves and effective, upon swinging said shelfto an in" termediate position, to actuate said shelf to either of said positionaand a link'having slot's riding in the grooves of said studsfto limit the rearward swinging of. said paper shelf. '3

3. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a platen carriage havinga carriage stop mechanism carried thereby, a paper 'shelf-swingably mounted on said carriage in position to normally overlie and conceal said stop mechanism and 'swingable rearwardly to ineffective positionto'reveal said;

stop mechanism, a first stud-on said carriageand a second studon said paper shelf,'each; of saidv studs having a-peripheral' groove adjacent the stud end, anoverthrow-spring presenting, a looped wire form having hooked ends seating in said stud grooves and eflective, upon swinging said shelf to an intermediate position to actuate said shelf to either of said positions, and a link having slots riding in the grooves of said studs to limit the rearward swinging of said paper shelf, the slots in said link permitting passage ()f the stud ends therethrough to facilitate assembly, said'spring retaining said link in operative positiqn on said studs. g N

WILLIAM A. DOBSON. 

